Apparatus and method for a programmable adaptive output driver

摘要

An adaptive output driver that uses a programmable Schmitt-trigger buffer to change the driver's operational response after it is manufactured. The adaptive output driver includes a primary driver that provides the primary current to drive an output signal into a load. A secondary driver for the adaptive output driver is enabled by the Schmitt-trigger buffer to provide an additional current to drive the load when the transitions between high and low states are slower than a predetermined slew rate. The programmable Schmitt-trigger buffer includes cells of pull-up and pull-down transistors that can be separately enabled. Each enabled cell causes an imbalance in the overall sizing ratio of activated pull-up and pull-down transistors; the amount of imbalance in the overall sizing ratio corresponds to the amount of hysteresis in the response of the Schmitt-trigger buffer. By programming the amount of hysteresis in the Schmitt-trigger buffer, the operation of the adaptive output driver can be modified to suit different loading conditions after manufacture. The programmable Schmitt-trigger buffer can be used in the input stage of an input/output driver employed with a microprocessor. Also, the programmable Schmitt-trigger buffer may be used with a distributed and weighted output driver to provide separate delays in the operation of selected output stages.